Helwer retains West for Tories

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This article was published 05/10/2011 (5365 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The margin was tight but Brandon West remains in Progressive Conservative hands after Reg Helwer defeated New Democrat Jim Murray by 146 votes on Tuesday.

Helwer gained ground in the seat vacated by the retiring Rick Borotsik, who defeated New Democratic incumbent Scott Smith by 56 votes in 2007.

“It’s a great challenge and I’ve got some huge shoes to fill with Rick Borotsik retiring —he did a great job in Brandon West — holding onto this seat and getting it back from the NDP, we are very pleased to hold it again,” Helwer said. “We’ll make sure we do the best job we can representing the citizens of Brandon West.”

Liberal George Buri was a distant third with 378 votes. Voter turnout was 61.95 per cent, with 8,712 votes cast.

Helwer will be sitting in opposition, as the Progressive Conservatives failed in their bid to gain ground in Winnipeg or win targeted seats in rural Manitoba such as Dauphin, Swam River, Interlake, Dawson Trail and Gimli.

“We saw a few good things happen obviously and it was a tough campaign where we were on the defensive all the time,” Helwer said. “The NDP created a lot of fear out there in people and we were able to overcome that fear.”

For his part, Murray said he doesn’t regret a single aspect of his campaign and said he simply came out on the wrong side of Tuesday night’s “roller-coaster ride” in Brandon West.

He spoke to the Sun moments after the results of the 52nd and final poll rolled in and gave credit to Helwer’s “blue machine.”

“It was close all night, there was no runaway horses,” he said. “I think we ran a good race. I think the Tory Machine rolled over us. It was a great run and I give Reg all the credit in the world.”

Murray said he was also pleased with the overall tone of the campaign, which he said he, Helwer and Buri all ran cleanly.

“I think it was a good, clean race,” he said. “I think that we managed to stay out of the mud, between the three of us — I think there was enough of that from the party leaders. I think at some of the debates, there were little pokes taken, but I think that we stayed away from doing anything personal to each other. We agreed early on that we would attack each other’s politics, each other’s leaders were definitely fair game, but we stayed away from anything personal and I think people like a clean race like that.”

A “bright note” to his campaign, Murray said, is that one half of his pre-election day prediction did come true — the government did not change on Tuesday.

“(Wednesday) morning we wake up with Premier Greg Selinger at the helm and I’m pleased with that,” he said. “Manitoba will continue to move forward and our ideals will be in place and this province is still looking foward to another four years of great things happening.”

Though the 2007 race in Brandon West between Smith and Borotsik also went down to the wire and ultimately required a recount, Murray said he’s not considering his 146 defeat to be worthy of a recount.

“I think it’s a pretty decisive win for Reg. I’m don’t think I’m looking for recount,” he said.

NDP Brandon West association president Ray Berthalette indicated to the Sun his organization will not be pressing the issue of a recount either.In the end, Helwer said the key to victory was getting to as many doors as possible.

“There was a lot of fear out there and it was just my addressing that fear,” Helwer said. “There were a lot of fears that we’d sell Hydro and fear of layoffs and fear of just about anything the NDP could put into people’s minds. Just meeting people and giving them reassurances that I could do what I’d say I would do was a key.”

After months of intense campaigning, what will Helwer do now that he gets a day off?

“I’ll wait for some phone calls and see what needs to be done,” Helwer said. “There’s lot of work that’s been ignored at home, but I’m not sure how much of that will get done.”

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